GEOGRAPHY The magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck California’s Napa Valley north of San Francisco on Sunday morning—collapsing older buildings, sparking fires and causing scores of injuries—fell along a series of cracks in the Earth tied to the famed and feared San Andreas Fault. (National Geographic News) Take a look at this map to see the web of faults beneath the San Francisco Bay Area. (For … Continue reading Whose Fault Was It?
epic (EH-pihk) noun. long story of a hero and his or her adventure This definition makes me think of high school English class—of reading “The Odyssey” and wondering when, just when, is Odysseus going to make it home? (The night of June 16, 1904.—Ed.) I tried, just now, making a sentence using epic as a noun, for example, “Do you want to read an epic?” It’s … Continue reading Wednesday Word of the Week: epic
UNITED STATES Nine wildfires are burning across San Diego County, as record dry conditions, warm temperatures, and gusty winds contribute to an early start to the Golden State’s fire season. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to make your own fire map. Discussion Ideas Take a look at the fire map above, provided by California Fire News (CFN). Compare it with this nice map from … Continue reading Wildfires Scorch San Diego
UNITED STATES How do you live through a voyage when the temperature drops to more than 50 degrees below zero and the air is thinner than that at the top of Mount Everest? You usually don’t. (NPR) Use our resources to understand altitude, air pressure, and their impact on the human body. Discussion Ideas The NPR blog post says wheel-well stowaways are likely to freeze to … Continue reading Boy Survives Flight in Jet’s Wheel Well
UNITED STATES Scientists say there’s much more to “the Rock” than crime and punishment, and they have come to Alcatraz to investigate the hidden history that lies beneath the prison walls. (BBC) Use our resources to appreciate how archaeologists are using futuristic technology to understand the distant past. Discussion Ideas Alcatraz Island was home to one of the most infamous prisons in the United States. … Continue reading Hidden History Found Beneath Alcatraz
